Shawn Mendes reflects on canceling 2022 tour as the 'hardest' and 'greatest' decision of his life

Shawn Mendes opened up about canceling his 2022 Wonder: The World Tour, calling it both the "hardest" and "greatest" decision of his life. Speaking on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast on Sept. 30, Mendes explained that he made the choice to focus on his mental health after experiencing depression and anxiety. “I had nowhere to go when things were getting hard,” Mendes said, noting the pressure of constantly being on tour.

The 26-year-old singer, who had to cancel the tour after just seven dates, shared that his feelings of "general darkness or lowness" were different from previous challenges he faced in his career. "It gave me time to discover so much about myself," Mendes added, emphasizing how the break allowed him to rebuild his personal life. Despite the difficulty, especially knowing his team was also affected by the decision, Mendes ultimately felt it was the right choice.

Mendes recently returned to the stage in preparation for the release of his fourth album Shawn, out on Oct. 18. He continues to reflect on how stepping back from touring was necessary for his well-being.